Summit of the Old Gods

This time, the visit lasted about an hour, and then Shadow Two made an excuse about the late hour and took her leave.

Before parting, Grandma Wen kept telling Shadow Two to visit more often in the future.

It was clear that the elderly lady really liked the young woman who had visited so unexpectedly.

Shadow Two indeed did a great job.

She was truly like a considerate granddaughter, chatting about everyday matters with Grandma Wen and then later looking through photo albums together, reminiscing about the past.

Since her husband passed away, the hardships that the solitary mother and child endured, Grandma Wen could now recount with a smile.

Lu Ran couldn't help but admire her secretly.

She is a great woman.

When she put on her reading glasses to look at the photo album with her granddaughter's comrade, she appeared so kind and intelligent.

Beneath this gentle exterior lay a strong, broad-minded heart.

Now, Grandma Wen is in good health, enjoying a good life; her daughter is outstanding, a military doctor who saves lives and is stationed inside the Demon Cave with her unit.

Perhaps these are the blessings bestowed upon this great woman by the heavens.

"Phew~"

The evening breeze from Luoxian Mountain, carrying the refreshing scent of flora, tousled Lu Ran's short hair.

"Give it to me." In the Luoxian Pavilion, Lu Ran sat on a long bench, reaching out his hand.

The kind and charming "granddaughter" had now put on an emotionless face, kneeled in front of Lu Ran, and presented a slender bamboo slip and a photo.

The photo was of Wen Lanxin and her daughter.

The bamboo slip was a letter from the Holy Spirit Mountain, entrusted to Lu Ran by Senior Lu Yuan to be delivered to his family.

Lu Ran hadn't managed to deliver it.

Specific situations require specific analysis; if Grandma Wen's family was not doing well, Lu Ran would be more than willing to bring the mother and daughter to Luoxian Mountain to spend their twilight years in the Immortal Sheep Sect.

This bamboo slip would naturally be handed over.

However, the mother and daughter were living exceptionally well!

For special reasons, Grandma Wen was very grateful to the Divine, Caiyu.

After the divine descended and subdued the evil demons, indeed, the divine and the human clan achieved victory.

But a very real problem was present: for a young mother with an infant to survive in an increasingly unstable society was no easy feat.

On the God Worship Platform, the Divine Caiyu appeared!

In those turbulent times, Wen Lanxin, with the halo of a believer's status, managed to overcome many difficulties suddenly as a solitary mother.

The Caiyu Sect even taught Wen Lanxin a skill, enabling her to provide a good upbringing for her daughter.

Wen Lanxin remains grateful to Lord Caiyu throughout her life, and some things are not convenient to tell her.

At the very least, it should not come from Lu Ran's mouth.

Her daughter, Lu Yancun, was also a powerful Sky Phoenix believer, deeply rooted in the military, with quite a sensitive identity!

Lu Yancun was not like Tian Tian, a university student who could switch faiths as easily as choosing to go up the mountain.

Once the mother and daughter learned that Lu Yuan was still alive, many issues would arise.

Also, Wen Lanxin, now in her seventies, maintained such a good mental state; Lu Ran was genuinely concerned that handing over this bamboo slip might disturb Grandma Wen's peaceful life.

During this visit, Lu Ran acquired enough information to report back to Senior Lu Yuan.

"You did well, go rest." Lu Ran said softly.

"Yes." Shadow Two bowed her head respectfully, and her figure disappeared quietly.

Lu Ran put away the photo and bamboo slip, turned his head to look at the path between the trees, and said, "You might be a great power in the River Realm, so why sneak around?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Ran himself blushed a little.

When speaking of sneaking, wasn't he the real expert?

Qiao Yuansi emerged, speaking softly, "Brother, you're so dignified! Do all the Ran Sect disciples have to kneel to speak to you?"

Behind her was a notably tall and robust figure—Niu Zhengzheng.

Lu Ran instinctively wanted to say that wasn't the case for his sister's remarks, only the Shadow Guard Team was more special.

But upon careful thought, extending the range to the entire Ran Sect...

It seemed there was not much difference?

Qiao Yuansi sat beside Lu Ran, murmuring, "Brother is becoming more and more like mother!"

This time, Lu Ran retorted quickly: "No, for me it's always one knee, like the ancient generals saluting their lords."

Qiao Yuansi tilted her little head, smiling cheerfully at Lu Ran: "I don't have to, right?"

"No." Lu Ran shook his head with a smile, then looked at the dark-skinned burly man, "Niu, you can sit too."

Niu Zhengzheng took a seat on one side of the Luoxian Pavilion entrance, a bit restrained.

For this Pride of Da Xia, Niu Zhengzheng had long sincerely called him "Brother Ran."

But now, being bound to the Evil God, Soul-splitting Demon, he also knew another of Lu Ran's identities—the Master of Gods and Demons.

The once rough man was indeed nervous facing Lu Ran now.

"Niu has something to say to you~" Qiao Yuansi tilted her head, resting on her brother's shoulder, smilingly watching the former teammate.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran turned his eyes toward him.

"Ran... Sect Leader..." Niu Zhengzheng was still a bit unused to the address, "I feel like I'm about to touch the bottleneck of cultivation and want to enter seclusion."

Lu Ran laughed: "After you became a Soul-splitting Demon, the effect was immediate, huh?"

Niu Zhengzheng was indeed very happy, grinned, showing a row of big white teeth: "Ever since signing the contract with the Sect Leader, I feel I can strive a bit more upwards, and the cultivation results this week have been great."

Lu Ran nodded: "First consolidate, don't break through yet, tomorrow we have to leave."

"Tomorrow?" Qiao Yuansi blinked.

"After finishing the tasks, it's time to go back." Lu Ran looked at Qiao Yuansi and teased, "What, can't bear to leave home?"

"No." Qiao Yuansi shook her head, then said softly, "Only a little bit."

Lu Ran's tone was gentle: "The living conditions there certainly can't compare to the human world, but there are many like-minded people with us there."

"Mm-hmm." This time, Qiao Yuansi nodded obediently.

She held Lu Ran's arm, hugging it tighter.

Having kindred spirits, that is good.

But most importantly...

you're there.

...

The next day, in the morning.

Inside the Immortal Worship Hall, many figures were kneeling.

Lu Ran was standing outside the great hall, accompanying the two Cheng grandpas.

Lu Ran felt some guilt for not being able to find Grandpa Cheng Xin. Over the past year and a half, he had heard a piece of news about Cheng Xin from Bai Yanhui, the Valley Master of Sinless Valley.

But that information was over ten years old.

Even Senior Lu Yuan, who roamed the four corners of the world, hadn't seen any Immortal Sheep Believers in the mountains.

When Lu Yuan helped Sinless Valley, Elder Cheng Xin had already left the organization; the two had never crossed paths.

"Mountain Master, you must be careful on your journey this time," Cheng Yi advised.

Cheng Li nodded in agreement.

After the fifteenth of last month, when they first saw Lu Ran, they were indeed startled!

Especially when they learned that both the Mountain Master Luoxian and Lady Luoxian had advanced to the Sea Realm, the two elders were even more astonished!

What exactly happened after the so-called Divine Ruins?

How could it forge people so thoroughly?!

Cheng Yi and Cheng Li could faintly sense that the young Mountain Master and Lady were not ordinary cultivators.

They had certainly emerged from a sea of blood and corpses!

Whether it was slaying humans or demons...

It's hard to say!

The two elders originally thought that with the Mountain Master's return, he would take full control of the Immortal Sheep Sect.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ran was not to stay.

But a mere passerby in the human world.

At least for now, Lord God does not permit the Mountain Master Luoxian to return to his roots.

"Certainly!" Lu Ran glanced at the two elders, "We'll count on you two for the Immortal Sheep Sect."

"Yes!"

"It's our duty!" The two elders responded.

"Until next time." Lu Ran stepped into the Immortal Worship Hall, Cheng Yi and Cheng Li on either side, slowly closing the door.

With the heavy sound of the door closing, Lu Ran surveyed the people kneeling inside the hall.

Jiang Ruyi, Qiao Yuansi, Tian Tian, Niu Zhengzheng.

Evil Shadow and two members of the Shadow Guard.

One person was missing.

[Nightmare?] Lu Ran transmitted mentally.

[Rain Alley City, my living room.] A female voice echoed in his mind.

Lu Ran immediately activated the Transmission Mirror.

Then, his eyes widened slightly, as the person emerging was not Deng Yuxiang but a tall young man.

Deng Yutang!

"Why... Why are you in Rain Alley City?" Lu Ran asked, surprised.

As he spoke, Bai Manni also stepped forward, holding a sleeping baby girl in her arms.

This?

"A week ago, the two of them drove back to Rain Alley City and have been staying with me at the old residence," Deng Yuxiang said as she stepped out.

"Driving is such a hassle. You should have told me, I would have sent you," Lu Ran said, helplessly.

"Brother Lu, take us to..." Deng Yutang requested.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"I've made up my mind!" Deng Yutang nodded firmly.

Lu Ran smiled and extended his hand: "Welcome, Ghost General."

Deng Yutang reached out his large hand and grabbed hold.

Lu Ran then looked at Bai Manni on the side and nodded with a smile: "Ghost Moon Fox?"

Evil Demon, Ghost Moon Fox, enemy of the Caster.

The originally very anxious Bai Manni was suddenly overjoyed! Just as she was about to bow, a red silk thread held her in place, making her stand steadily.

Lu Ran retracted the Tethering Silk, looking at Bai Manni's arms: "Is the child okay?"

Bai Manni's eyes were filled with a pleading look.

Lu Ran nodded: "Alright, you can bring her along if you can't leave her."

Bai Manni nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, thank you, Ran Shen..."

Lu Ran pointed to the depths of the hall: "You two can go there."

[I'm sorry to trouble you.] Deng Yuxiang again transmitted mentally.

All along, Deng Yuxiang had prioritized Lu Ran's interests, and after the Beifeng City incident, she even lived for him.

But this time, Deng Yuxiang considered her family.

Yet her brother and sister-in-law lacked ambition and strength.

Inside the Holy Spirit Mountain Realm, anyone could have been more qualified to be bound with the Stone Sculpture than them.

But Deng Yuxiang forcibly dragged her brother into the car and reprimanded Deng Yutang, who was still dreaming, on the balcony at home.

And Lu Ran...

Someone who values relationships greatly, indeed had no objections.

[What's the trouble? This is what I wanted! I've told you a thousand times, he's your brother but also my brother.]

Living this lifetime, one must hold onto certain things.

Moreover, a loyal brother is far more reassuring to Lu Ran than a powerful subordinate.

Lu Ran smiled at the woman and continued to transmit mentally: [Additionally, if Mr. Deng hadn't pulled me into your car at the school gate that day, we might not have had the stories we do now.]

"Hmm." Deng Yuxiang lowered her head with a smile and walked toward the depths of the hall.

Scent~

As she passed by, he suddenly sniffed his nose.

Ah, the fragrance of camellias.

...